Cassiope
(of classical derivation). ORD. Ericacea. A genus of small, hardy, Heath-like shrubs, sometimes, but erroneously, included under Andromeda. Flowers solitary. pedunculate, lateral or terminal. Leaves small, imbricated. All the species are delicate little plants, and require great care in their culture. They are best planted in sandy peat, and partially shaded. Propagated by layers.
C. fastigiata (pyramidal). fl. white or pale red; corolla campanulate, solitary, pedunculate, produced at the top of the little branchlets. May. l. imbricated in fort rows, with revolute membranous margins, elongated at top; peduncles wooly. Himalayas. An elgant little shrub, thriving when planted on rockwork in deep, moist, but well drained soil, where it will be carefully guarded from drought, which is fatal to it. (B. M. 4796.)
C. hypnoides (moss-like).*fl. small, with a red calyx and white campanulate corolla, solitary, drooping, lateral, on somewhat long pedicels. June. l. imbricated, loose, needle-shaped. Lapland and North America, 1798. A small moss-like creeping shrub, forming one of the best and most interesting of alpine plants, and of rather difficult culture. It delights in gritty, moist, but well drained peat, with full exposure to sun and air. to establish it perfectly, it should be pegged down when first planting; it is also advisable to place a few stones around the neck of the plant on the surface of the soil. Drought is also fatal to its successful cultivation. SYN Andromeda hypnoides. (B. M. 2936.) C. tetragona (four-angled).* fl. white; corolla campanulate, some what contracted near the mouth, solitary, and rather freely produced. March. l. imbricated in four rows, obtuse, pointless minutely ciliated; margins revolute. h. 6in. to 8in. Lapland, 1810. An elegant little evergreen, requiring partial shade, sandy peat or leaf soil, and a moist or semi-bog situation. It has recently been proved to thrive well in a rich yellow loam. (B. M. 3181.) In gardens, this is usually called Andromeda tetragona.